Carpenter Park Hike IV (Extremely Photo Heavy)

The Warrior

The Warrior

🇺🇸 INSANE VIKING 🇺🇸
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I know I said the last time I wouldn't post anything from a Carpenter Park hike again, but, the weather was perfect, so we did another hike there today. Pretty much the same as last time, haha. We kind of got a late start, so we went right to the destination, made lunch, hung out for awhile, then headed back.

Before we left, I went to fill up my 38oz Guyot, to discover it had a leak. Thought perhaps I didn't have the lid on tight enough, but found it had a crack in it. WTF? I think what happened, is once we returned from the cabin, intending on hiking in the area while there. We didn't go, and once we got home, I put the sling bag on, Guyot still full of water. I flung the pack around to my back, and the strap busted under the weight, and fell to the ground. Only thing I can think of. You can see the crack, with dent to the right of it:

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Duct taped, and ready to go, haha:

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Anywhos, Carpenter Park was pretty. There was still some color to be seen:

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The 14 in a hollow log shot:

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Another 14 shot, on an odd shaped branch:

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Thorny:

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I was noticing all the fire starting materials along the way. Not sure what kind of tree it is, but the bark was peeling off like paper:

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Milkweed silk:

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And dry prairie grasses and the like for days:

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Don't know what these are either, but they make a nice shot:

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Trees on one side, and prairie grass on the other. The tracks, in the distance are our destination:

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Deer trail in the grass:

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More color:

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The tracks:

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I'll never grow up:

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The trestle:

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Caught a cool train shot, with reflection:

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Slinger. Number 81 has arrived:

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Emberlit:

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Don't have to go far for fire materials. It's as close as an arm's reach away:

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My prep, and fire kit:

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V3 Pocket Bellows, ESEE striker, char cloth, and flint:

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New 14cm Zebra "Lunchbox" I've been wanting to try out:

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Threw some cedar bark I carried in a tin into the Emberlit:

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Place a piece of char cloth on top of the flint, to catch the spark from the striker:

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After a few tries, it caught on:

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Placed the lit char cloth on top of the cedar shavings:

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Placed more shavings on top of the char cloth, and blew it into life with the pocket bellows:

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to be cont...
 
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Hard to see the flames for the smoke, but she burst into flame:

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Add the grass bundle, and used the bellows again/ Not really necessary at this point, but it made it go a lot faster:

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Add the small sticks:

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Add some fatter, short sticks for some decent coals:

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And finally the feeder sticks:

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Put the cross bars on the Emberlit:

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Pour some water into the pan:

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And place on the stove:

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Meanwhile, the wife used her 14 to cut up some broccoli:

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Almost boiling:

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Cover back on, and waiting:

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Stoke it hotter with the bellows:

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Do not adjust your computer screens, my hair is that grey:

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Throw in some pasta:

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Good to see the equipment being used. Nice to see some colors on the new pan:

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Boiling again:

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The wife getting ready to check the pasta. I was wondering how hot the flip up handles would get on the new Zebra. Worked great, never got hot to the touch. Warm, yes, hot, no:

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Throw in the broccoli:

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Getting ready to cut up a piece of leftover oven fried chicken breast from the night before:

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Sliced it on up:

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And cubed it:

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I was just trying to get a good shot of the bellows working. Photo turned out blurry, but you can see the coals glowing. Wife was checking the pasta at the same time, haha:

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The Emberlit is an efficient burner:

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Anyways, drain the water off:

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Salt and pepper:

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Parmesan cheese:

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Add the chicken:

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to be cont...
 
Give it a stir:

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Divy it up:

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Wife opted to use the stainless chopsticks I bought her. She forgot she even had them:

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The old fold-a-cup:

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Pretty good:

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Dual 14's:

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Another slingbag shot:

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Put my flashlight on my bag, just in case it got dark on us:

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Looking down the log I was sitting on. Woo hoo:

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Heading back out. A few deer:

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The shadow shot, taken from on top the trestle:

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I couldn't believe this. We walked back down to the trail, on the side of the trestle. My wife called my name, I turned around, and there was my 14 hanging from a branch. I had it in my front pocket, with the lanyard hanging out of my pocket, and it snagged, and pulled it out. I had no idea. I knew I took her on my hikes for a reason, haha:

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Backwaters of the Sangamon River:

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More colors and such on the way back to the truck:

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A burl filled tree:

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My wife's shot was better:

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Back to the stone house, next to the parking lot:

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Had a great time today. We were gonna take the boat out, and find a nice spot, but it was a little windy, so we just hiked instead. Glad we did. I always say there's nothing like being in the woods to soothe the soul. Mid 60's out, sunny, wind in the trees with the leaves falling, the smell of foliage on the forest floor, and the birds singing. Doesn't get much better than that.

Thanks for looking at my rather long post.
 
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Awesome post, Dubz....but, seriously - broccoli? In the woods? WTF for?

Just kidding. I love your pics and posts - when I hike I never stop to cook....usually it's a Clif bar and I'm on my way again. But maybe this is because I almost always hike alone.
 
granitestateofmind said:
Awesome post, Dubz....but, seriously - broccoli? In the woods? WTF for?

Just kidding. I love your pics and posts - when I hike I never stop to cook....usually it's a Clif bar and I'm on my way again. But maybe this is because I almost always hike alone.
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Thanks man. Yep, broccoli, haha. The meal is always a big deal out in the woods. My wife is Sicilian. The meals are always a big deal at home as well. When I was growing up, I never gave a meal much thought really. Just sat down and ate. Among the Italians, the meal is like an event, literally.
 
Super awesome pics. That stove and pot are great. How do you like hiking with a sling bag? I can't decide on one of those or a small backpack for day hikes.
 
Man, another Carpenter Park post?? Just kidding, you could post one of these a month and I'd still pour over your pics. I can see why you head out there so often, it sure is a beautiful place to spend some time. Thanks for the pics, except now I'm hungry again lol. Nice to see the ease firestriker in use; I have one too but have yet to use it. Gonna have to remedy that someday. Thanks for sharing!
 
HazeGray said:
Super awesome pics. That stove and pot are great. How do you like hiking with a sling bag? I can't decide on one of those or a small backpack for day hikes.
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Thanksman. I like the sling bag quite a bit. A backpack is more comfortable, imo. I found if I ride the bag low on my back, where the bottom of it rides on my belt, it's comfortable. Actually, on the back/bottom of the bag, there's a belt loop there.
Aikiguy said:
Man, another Carpenter Park post?? Just kidding, you could post one of these a month and I'd still pour over your pics. I can see why you head out there so often, it sure is a beautiful place to spend some time. Thanks for the pics, except now I'm hungry again lol. Nice to see the ease firestriker in use; I have one too but have yet to use it. Gonna have to remedy that someday. Thanks for sharing!
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Haha, yep. It's fun there. Like I've aid before, there's not a lot of places to hike in this area. This park is about 30 minutes away from home. The ESEE striker s awesome, I love it. One of these days, I'll use it for a bow and drill fire.
 
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Beautiful looking day Warrior! Thanks for sharing!

I'm jealous! I can't wait until the kids are a little older to where we can take them on longer hikes / day trips (or maybe a little older then that when I can run away with just the wife!)
 
So, I'm sitting on Walnut and Jefferson in the McDonald's reading about this place that is a stones throw away from me. I had NO idea it was RIGHT HERE, until I pulled it up on the map. I'm gonna have to see when the lady is free if she wants to take the pup before I have to go home.

Jeez this place looks amazing sir! Your pictures are always so beautiful. Don't mind the grey hair either, some say it's a sign of a good life!
 
TBL said:
Beautiful looking day Warrior! Thanks for sharing!

I'm jealous! I can't wait until the kids are a little older to where we can take them on longer hikes / day trips (or maybe a little older then that when I can run away with just the wife!)
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It's a lot of fun man. I used to take my son camping, but not really hiking. That a more recent thang we started doing.
Chameleonbear said:
So, I'm sitting on Walnut and Jefferson in the McDonald's reading about this place that is a stones throw away from me. I had NO idea it was RIGHT HERE, until I pulled it up on the map. I'm gonna have to see when the lady is free if she wants to take the pup before I have to go home.

Jeez this place looks amazing sir! Your pictures are always so beautiful. Don't mind the grey hair either, some say it's a sign of a good life!
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It's a nice place man. If you keep walking westward, and go across the tracks, there's Jurgen's Park. Carpenter is actually prettier though. I earned every one of those grey hairs, haha.
 
Beauiful day for a hike. Excellent pics. Glad your wife saw your 14 hanging there.
 
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